EU, Turkey to Hold Talks

BRUSSELS (AP) -- Human rights activists on Tuesday urged the European Union to use a meeting with Turkey's foreign minister to put pressure on Ankara to release rights workers who have been detained as part of Turkey's crackdown on the opposition in the aftermath of last year's failed coup.

The call came at a noisy protest in Brussels ahead of the talks, which came amid growing concern that Turkey is sliding away from EU values as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tightens his grip on power and cracks down on perceived opponents.

"Our call is very simple. We want the unconditional and immediate release of these human rights defenders," said Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty.

Amnesty's Turkey Director and Chair, Idil Eser and Taner Kilic, are among those being detained.

"Turkey has to get a clear message that the EU would like to reset its relationship with Turkey and that there will be consequences for the actions they take, because right now they feel no consequences," Shetty added after handing a petition to EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.

The talks in Brussels between Mogherini and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik come as Turkey's long-standing bid for EU membership remains in the deep freeze and show no signs of thawing.

More than 50,000 people, including journalists and opposition lawmakers, have been detained since the July 15, 2016 coup attempt. Critics say the crackdown initially targeted people suspected of links to the failed coup, but has expanded to include government opponents.

Turkey applied to join the EU three decades ago, and they started negotiating in 2005. But of the 16 negotiating chapters on issues as varied as capital movement and food safety, only one — science and research — has been provisionally closed.

Tuesday's discussions in Brussels are expected to touch on issues including Ankara's EU accession, immigration, Turkey's demands for visa-free travel for its citizens, the fight against terrorism and energy and trade ties.

Last week, the German government increased pressure on Turkey after the jailing of a human rights activist, telling all citizens traveling there to exercise caution and threatening to withhold backing for German investments in Turkey.

Based on previous rounds of talks between lower level officials, Tuesday's meeting could get heated.

"I was told last time when I met the foreign minister ... somebody in the other room could hear our conversation," European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who is also taking part in the talks, said Monday.

"We have fundamental criticism about the lack of rule of law and that is something that doesn't just depend on one specific member state," Hahn said in reference to Germany's tense relations with Turkey. "It's a fundamental issue that must be raised and will be raised by us."

(KA)